Automatic switch-reclosing mechanism



Feb. 4, 1930. E. K. SADLER AUTOMATIC SWITCH RECLOSING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 15 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet I07 INVENTOR ahisAoLa-a BY f/ ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1930. E. K. SADLER I AUTOMATIC SWITCH RECLOSING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR f. If 6A0 L EA? 4? BY ATTORN EY Filed Nov. 15 1926 Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST K. SADLER, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T CHARLES E.

SCHN ELL, 0]! FRESNO, CALIFORNIA AUTOMATIC SWITCH-RECLOSING MECHANISM Application filed November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,600.

My invention relates to an automatic switch reclosing mechanism for use in remote control systems with a switch or circuit breaker which trips out from overload, re-

verse power, or other reason. Its prime obje'ct is a combination of mechanical means, set in operation by the tripping out of the circuit breaker, for mechanically reclosing the switch after the expiration of a predetermined interval of time, and if the adverse condition remains. to continue this reclosing at fixed intervals for a predetermined number of times, and if the trouble still continues,

I then to become inoperative.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the above character which is adaptable for operation with any switch which automatically trips out.

A still further object is to provide mechanism of the above character adaptable for varying intervals of time between the reclosings of the switch and the total number of reclosings before the device for making the mechanism inoperative will function.

Another object is to provide mechanism of the above character which may be easily and quickly incorporated in a circuit already in operation without materially altering or interfering therewith and which will be simple so and efiicient in construction and operation,

automatic in action and which when once installed will require but the minimum of attention. 7

Other objects and advantages will appear 25 ,hereinafter. While I have shown and will describe the preferred form of my invention, I do not limit myself to such preferred form, but various changes and adaptations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof:

Figure l is a top plan of my device with the cover removed. 1

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, partly broken away for clearness of illustration.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram of my device as connected to the pallet switch of a circuit breaker.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a circuit breaker with my device connected thereto.

Figures 6 and 7 are details of the lookout and alarm actuating parts of my device.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail of the ratchetwheel-pawl-actuating part of mydevice.

Fig. 9 is a detail drawing showing one form of toggle latch to make the operating handle trip free from its circuit breaker.

Referring to the drawings, my device comprises a rectangular box 10, the top and one end being opened to provide access to the mechanism, which openings have suitable closure 11. Box 10 is provided with ears 12 to secure to a support. Extending upwardly from the bottom wall near the open end of box 10 is a platform 13upon which is mounted transversely of box 10, an electric motor 14. Rigidly mounted on a projecting end of shaft 15 is a worm 16 attached by means of a pin 17. Rigidly mounted in the outside end of worm 16, by means of a pin 18, is one end of a governor shaft 19, the otherend of which is revolubly mounted in a bearing 20 in the side wall of box 10. Shaft 19 is provided intermediate its length with a governor pulley 21 provided with an annular flange 22, and said shaft, at the side of said pulley and concentric with said flange 22, is reduced to form a recess 23, and extending radially from said reduced portion, within said recess, are pins 24. Four are shown, but more or less may be used as desired or found necessary. Slidably mounted upon pins 24, to slide longitudinally thereon, are segments 25. Worm 16 meshes with a worm wheel 26 rigidly mounted upon one end of a worm shaft 27.

Shaft27 is revolubly mounted in bearings 28 and 29 extending upwardly from the bottom wall of box 10 near one side thereof and has rigidly mounted thereon, between said bearings, a worm 30 which meshes with a worm wheel 31 rigidly mounted upon a cam shaft 32. An anti-friction thrust bearing 33 is provided upon shaft 27 between the endof worm 30 and bearing 29, the purpose of which will be obvious. Shaft 32 is revolubly mounted at one end in a bearing 34 in the side wall lower ends. in the bottom wall of box 10, at

one end therof, to extend vertically, are a plurality of spaced studs 41 the upper ends of which are supported in brackets 42 detachably secured to the upper end of the end wall of box 10 by means of bolts 43, and slidably mounted upon each of these studs isa collar 44 provided with an integral flange 45. Coiled aroundeach of the studs 41, between flange 45 and the bottom wall of box 10, are coil springs 46. Rigidly mounted centrally of its length upon the inner end of shaft 39, at the side of bearing 40, is a rocker arm 47 one end of which is bifurcated as at 48 to straddle stud 41 and bears against the upper face of collar 44. The other end of arm 47 is ofiset as at 49 and is bifurcated and carries a roller 50 which bears against the periphery of the cam 37. Rigidly mounted upon shaft 39 are collars 51 and 52 and extending from these collars-are compressor arms 53 and 54 the ends'of which are bifurcated to straddle the studs 41 and bear against the upper edges of collars 44. Revolubly mounted upon the side wall of box 10, by means of pintle 55, and at one side of shaft 32, is a ratchet wheel 56 which controls the lockout switch 57. Switch 57 is rigidly mounted upon one end of one of the arms 58 of a bell crank lever 59 which lever is pivotally mounted upon the side wall of box 10 by means of pivot 60. The other arm 61 of lever 59 terminates .at

a the side of ratchet wheel 56 and projecting from the side of ratchet wheel 56 is a pin 62 adapted to engage said arm and rock bell crank 59, as hereafter explained. Tension spring 63 has one end pivotally connected "to the lower end of arm 58 by a pintle 64 and its other end secured to the side wall of box 10 by means of a pintle 65. It will be noted.

that pintles 64 and 65 and pivot 60 are in vertlcal alignment, the purpose ofwhich is to give a rapid motion to lever 59 so as to engage said lever in contacts 76 as soon as pin 62 strikes lever 61 and moves point 64 out of line with 59 and 65. Pivotally mounted near one end upon the side wall of box 10, by means of a pivot 66, is a lever 67 one end of which is adapted to be engaged by the weights 25 hereinafter more definitely described and the other end of which is provided with a resilient ratchet or pawl 68 adapted for engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel 56 to prevent retrograde movemama? end connected to the upper end of lever 67 and its other end connected to the side wall of box 10 and serves to normally hold pawl 68 from engaging the teeth of wheel 56. Provided in the side wall of box 10 are a plurality of apertures or sockets 7 O, the centers of which are on the line of a circle concentric with ratchet wheel 56, any one of which is adapted to have mounted therein a stop pin 71 to limit the return movement of ratchet wheel 56 as hereafter explained. Projecting radially from the hub 72 of the worm wheel 31 is a tooth 73 which is in alignment with ratchet wheel 56 and is adapted at each rotation of said worm wheel to engage a tooth of ratchet wheel 56 and advance the same one notch. Extending outwardly from the side of ratchet wheel 56, on the side opposite the pin 62, is a projection 74, and mounted in hub 72, to extend radially, is a pin adapted to engage projection 74 and rotate wheel 56 to cause pin. 62 to engage arm 61 and open the lockout switch 103, and, at the same time, close the alarm switch 76. Switch blade 57, mounted on lever 58 and insulated therefrom,

is adapted to engage and bridge lockout contacts 103 until lever 58 is moved by action of ratchet wheel, as explained below, when blade 57 will leave contacts 103 and swing around to engage and bridge alarm contacts 7 6. Pin 7 4' is so set in ratchet wheel 56 that after ratchet wheel has been moved a predetermined number of notches by action of projection 73, in the drawings itis set for three notches, that pin 75 will strike pin 74 and move ratchet wheel around a distance great enough to cause projection 62 to strike lever 61 and cause switch blade mounted on lever 58 to move the side of worm wheel 31 are two spacedv blocks 82 and 83 which are adapted during a portion of the rotation of wheel 31 to close contacts 80'and 81. A spiral spring 84 has one end secured to ratchet wheel .56

and its other end securedto pintle 55 andserves to return said wheel to its normal starting position after each operation.

The projection 62, extending from the side of ratchet wheel 56, is engaged by the stop pin 71 to limit the return movement of said wheel, the aperture 70 in which said pin is mounted determining the number of times the switch will be reclosed before being rendered inoperative or locked out.

Rigidly secured at one end upon the pro jecting end of shaft 39, on the outer side of box 10, is an arm 86 the other end of which is connected by a link 87 to one end of an adjustable connecting bar 88. The other end of bar 88 is connected to the switch handle members 89 and 90. Switch handle 112 shown in Fig. 5 is connected through toggle members 105 and 110 to the circuit breaker 101 shown in Fig. 4 through links 111. Links 111 straddle circuit breaker handle 112 and are slotted so they are free to move outward to position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5 when the toggle is broken. Toggle link 105 is fastened to circuit breaker 112 by pin 106 and to toggle link 110 by pin 107. Toggle link 110 is fastened to links 111 by pin 109. Pin 108 prevents toggle from dropping below center by engaging notch in end of toggle link 105. The end of pintle 55 projects through theside wall of box 10 and on this projecting end is rigidly mounted one end of a reset lever 91 by means of which pivot 55 may be rocked to return lockout switch 57 to its normal position. Rigidly mounted upon the side wall ofbox 10, near one end and at the top, is a terminal block 92.

' In Fig. 4, 101 indicates the circuit breaker or switch and 102 the usual mechanically connected pallet switch which is closed by the tripping out of the circuit breaker 101. One side of the pallet switch 102 is connected to wire 93 of the supply system and its other side is connected. through wire 94 to one side of the lockout switch 103. The other side of switch 103 is connected by wire 95 to one side of the motor 14. The other side of motor 14 is connected to wire 96 of the supply sys- ;tem. It will thus be seen that the lockout switch 57 and motor 14 are connected in series. One contact of the delay switch is connected by wire 97 to wire and the other contact 81 is connected by wire 98 to supply wire 93.

The contacts of the alarm switch 76 are connected by wires 99 and 100 to a suitable alarm device and source of energy (not shown). Trip coil 104 in one form of protection is connected to current transformer or series coil 113 through leads 114 and 115.

In the operation of my device, when an adverse condition or overload occurs on the circuit controlled by circuit breaker 101 the current L will flow through coil 113, wire 114, trip coil 104 and wire 115 energizing coil 104 and raising plunger 116 of trip coil '104. Plunger 116 will strike toggle link 110, unlatching the to gle by C I movmg 1t over center and allowing sw1tch operating links 111 to move to position shown by broken lines in Fig. 5 and Fig. 9. Circuit breaker handle 112 will remain in closed position but circuit breaker .101 will open when links 111 move outward.

Pallet switch 102 is connected to circuit breaker 110 in such a manner as to close when the circuit breaker opens and to open when the circuit breaker closes. The closing of switch 102, will complete the circuit to lockout switch 57 through leads 93 and 94 and through lead 95 to motor 14 and complete circuit to motor through lead 96, starting motor 14 into operation. The operation of motor 14 will, through worm 16, worm wheel 26, shaft 27, worm 30 and worm wheel 31, rotate shaft 32 and cam 37, which will, through rocker arm 17, rock shaft 39 and its associated parts and compress springs 46, at the same time moving lever 86 to its lowermost position. Moving of lever 86 to down position will through rod 88 and links 89 and 90 move switch handle 112 to its retrieved or open position and straighten out toggle links 105 and so that pins 106, 107 and 109 will all be in a straight line. The weights 25 of the ratchet-paW1-actuating-device will move outwardly and press the free end oflever 67 downwardly against the resistance of spring 69, thus bringing ratchet 68 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 56. As wheel 31 is rotated tooth 73 will engage a tooth of wheel 56 and rotate the same one tooth or notch, ratchet 68 acting to prevent retrograde movement thereof. At this time the roller 50 on arm 47 will have passed the end of the rise of cam 37, thus releasing springs 64 when the same will move upwardly rocking shaft 39 and moving lever 86 upwardly. which through rod 88, links 89 and 90, circuit breaker handle 112, toggle links 105, 110 and links 111 will close circuit breaker 101. Just before the roller 50 passes the end of cam 37 block 82 will clo;e contacts 80 and 81. These contacts are connected in parallel with'pallet switch 102 through leads 97 and 98 and act to continue the motor in operation a sufiicient time to prevent ratchet 68 from releasing wheel 56 and permitting the same to reset if the circuit breaker again trips out. If the circuit breaker stays closed pallet switch 102 will be open when block 82 clears contacts 80 and 81 allowing them to open and the motor 14 will then shut down and ratchet wheel 56 reset. This block 82 is so positioned as to close contacts 80 and 81 just before roller 50 passes the end of cam 37 and to release the same before the mechanism has advanced sufiiciently to again begin to compress springs 46. Continued rotation of wheel 31 and ratchet wheel 56 will move proj ection 74 on the side of wheel 56 into the path of pin 75 on the hub 72 of wheel 31. Pin 75 will then engage projection 74 and rotate ratchet wheel 56 and cause pin 62 to engage the end of leg 61 of bell crank lever 59 and move the, same downwardly. As lever 59 is rocked, bringing the lower end of spring 69 off center of pivot 60, said spring will act to rock lever 59, opening switch-103 and closing the alarm switch 76. The block 83 on wheel 31 is provided to hold contacts 80 and 81 closed a suflicient time to permit pin 75 to clear the projection 7 4 so that spring 84 may return wheel 56 to its starting position after the motor has ceased operation. The particular hole in which the stop pin is located determines the number of times the Switch will be reclosed during one series of operations before the mechanism becomes inoper: ative or locked out. stays closed for a period of time greater than it takes block 82 to clear delay contacts 80 and 81, even. though the circuit breaker has closed more than once while the mechanism was in steady operation, the mechanism ill shut down and ratchet wheel 56 reset pro iding the number of reclosings for the one operation does not exceed the predetermined number before lockout as determined by posifion of pin 71.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination with an electric circuit breaker and means for tripping the same, of means for automatically reclosing the circuit breaker a consecutive plurality of times comprising a support; a rocker shaft mounted on said support; a connection from said shaft to'said circuit breaker adapted when said shaft is rocked to close the circuit breaker;-a cam shaft revolubly mounted in said support; .a cam on said cam shaft rotatable therewith; a rocker arm carried by said rocker shaft adapted and positioned for engagement with said cam, whereby rotation thereof will rock said rocking shaft; a plurality of,compression springs on said support; a plurality of compressor arms equal to the number of springs, adapted to compress the springs when the rocker shaft is rocked, said cam being adapted to release the rocker arm on a portion of its periphery; means to rotate said cam shaft; and means controlled by the rotation of said cam shaft to render said rotating means inoperative.

2. In combination with a circuit breaker and means for'tripping the same; of means for automatically reclosing the circuit breaker a consecutive predetermined number of times comprising a support; a rocker shaft mounted on said support; a cam shaft revo-' lubly mounted on said support; a cam rotable with the cam shaft; an arm carried by the rocker shaft adapted to be depressed by the cam; resilient means on said support adapted to rock said rocker shaft in a reverse direction to that given it by the cam, a portion of the periphery of the cam being adapted to release the rocker shaft arm, a

connection from said rocker shaft to the circuit breaker adapted upon the release of the arm on the rocker shaft to close the circuit breaker; a motor adapted to rotate the cam shaft; means actuated by the rotation of the cam shaft and adapted to interlock and check further rotation of the cam shaft after said If the circuit breaker cam shaft has performed a predetermined number of consecutive revolutions.

3. An automatic switch reclosing mechanism adapted to be connected to any manually operated automatic circuit breaker, said reclosing mechanism having a motor adapted to be energized by the closing of a pallet switch upon the tripping out of said circuit breaker, said motor being connected to gears adapted to drive a shaft, a cam keyed to said shaft, a roller mounted in the end of .a lever, said roller adapted to roll along the face of said cam, said lever keyed to a second shaft upon which are mounted levers adapted to compress springs, means to compress said springs by action of said cam upon said roller and lever, means to move handle of said circuit breaker to retrieved or open position while said springs are being compressed, means to close said circuit breaker-whensaid springs are released, a pair of contacts mountedin the path of a block fastened to one of said gears", said block being adapted to close said contacts, said contacts providing means .reelosings of said circuit breaker, means to ,set said ratchet wheel to give a predeter-' mined number of reclosings of said circuit breaker, means to reset said ratchet wheel to starting position when said motor stops, means to advance said ratchet wheel one step for each revolution of said cam and means to prevent resetting of said ratchet wheel while said mechanism is in operation, a pin projecting from said ratchet wheel adapted to engage an arm connected to a switch blade, means'provided to move said switch blade from one set of contacts to another set of contacts upon the engaging of said arm by said pin; means provided to lockout said mechanism by the moving of said switch blade from one set of said contacts to the other'set of said contacts, means provided to manually reset said switch blade to make said mechanism again operative.

ERNEST K. SADLER. 

